A history of hitters' parks

Updated 6:09 pm, Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox baseball team, was built in 1912 making it the nations oldest ballpark.

Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox baseball team, was built in 1912 making it the nations oldest ballpark.

Photo: Lonely Planet, Getty Images

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A general view of outside Fenway Park in Boston in 1998.

A general view of outside Fenway Park in Boston in 1998.

Photo: Rick Stewart, Getty Images

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Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox baseball team, was built in 1912 making it the nations oldest ballpark.

Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox baseball team, was built in 1912 making it the nations oldest ballpark.

Photo: Lonely Planet, Getty Images

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A photographer on the roof of Boston's Fenway Park shot this photo of game action against the St. Louis Browns in June 1945.

A photographer on the roof of Boston's Fenway Park shot this photo of game action against the St. Louis Browns in June 1945.

Photo: Getty Images

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General view of Fenway Park as Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox bats during a circa 1940s game in Boston.

General view of Fenway Park as Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox bats during a circa 1940s game in Boston.

Photo: B Bennett, Getty Images

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View of Fenway Park and Boston skyline.

View of Fenway Park and Boston skyline.

Photo: David Madison, Getty Images

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Elevated view of Fenway Park in Boston.

Elevated view of Fenway Park in Boston.

Photo: Allan Baxter, Getty Images

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"The Player" statue stands outside Coors Field in Denver in 2012.

"The Player" statue stands outside Coors Field in Denver in 2012.

Photo: Doug Pensinger, Getty Images

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The Bulova clock and American Flag adorn the entrance to Coors Field in Denver as seen in this 2009 photo.

The Bulova clock and American Flag adorn the entrance to Coors Field in Denver as seen in this 2009 photo.

Photo: George Rose, Getty Images

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A general view of Denver's Coors Field as the Los Angeles Angels face the Colorado Rockies in 2012.

A general view of Denver's Coors Field as the Los Angeles Angels face the Colorado Rockies in 2012.

Photo: Doug Pensinger, Getty Images

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A general view of Coors Field taken during a Rockies game in 1994.

A general view of Coors Field taken during a Rockies game in 1994.

Photo: Rich Pilling, Getty Images

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An elevated view of Coors Field in Denver at sunset.

An elevated view of Coors Field in Denver at sunset.

Photo: David Madison, Getty Images

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A general view of the Coors Field taken during the game against the Montreal Expos in Denver.

A general view of the Coors Field taken during the game against the Montreal Expos in Denver.

Photo: Tim Defrisco, Allsport Via Getty Images

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Coors Field lit up at night in Denver.

Coors Field lit up at night in Denver.

Photo: Getty Images

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Part of a 1887 schedule for games at The Polo Grounds baseball stadium in New York. Located on 8th Avenue in North Harlem, it was the home of the New York Giants from 1891 to 1957.

Part of a 1887 schedule for games at The Polo Grounds baseball stadium in New York. Located on 8th Avenue in North Harlem, it was the home of the New York Giants from 1891 to 1957.

Photo: MPI, Getty Images

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A view of the Polo Grounds in New York as Opening Day ceremonies are in progress in April 1886.

A view of the Polo Grounds in New York as Opening Day ceremonies are in progress in April 1886.

Photo: Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images

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The first pitch is being delivered in the 1913 World Series in the Polo Grounds, with Rube Marquard on the mound for the Giants facing Eddie Murphy of the Philadelphia Athletics on Oct. 7, 1913.

The first pitch is being delivered in the 1913 World Series in the Polo Grounds, with Rube Marquard on the mound for the Giants facing Eddie Murphy of the Philadelphia Athletics on Oct. 7, 1913.

Photo: Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images

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Babe Ruth hits a home run during a game circa 1922 in the Polo Grounds in New York City.

Babe Ruth hits a home run during a game circa 1922 in the Polo Grounds in New York City.

Photo: Getty Images

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A view from the outfield of the Polo Grounds in New York on Opening Day in April 1934, where the Giants play the Philadelphia Phillies.

A view from the outfield of the Polo Grounds in New York on Opening Day in April 1934, where the Giants play the Philadelphia Phillies.

Photo: Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images

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Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants stands in center field during a game against the New York Mets at the Polo Grounds stadium in New York in June 1962.

Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants stands in center field during a game against the New York Mets at the Polo Grounds stadium in New York in June 1962.

Photo: Art Rickerby, Getty Images

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A general view of a Major League Baseball game being played at the Polo Grounds, home of the New York Mets, circa 1962-1963 in New York City.

A general view of a Major League Baseball game being played at the Polo Grounds, home of the New York Mets, circa 1962-1963 in New York City.

Photo: Louis Requena, Getty Images

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The entrance to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Exposition Park is seen in 2003.

The entrance to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Exposition Park is seen in 2003.

Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

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Crowds watch a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, circa 1930.

Crowds watch a football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, circa 1930.

Photo: FPG, Getty Images

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A general view of the 1959 World Series with the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers in October 1959 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

A general view of the 1959 World Series with the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers in October 1959 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Photo: American Stock Archive, Getty Images

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A general view of a portion of the fans gathered for the Opening Day game in 1958 between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Both the Giants and the Dodgers relocated from New York City after the 1957 season.

A general view of a portion of the fans gathered for the Opening Day game in 1958 between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Both the Giants and the

A view of the crowded Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as baseball fans attend a Los Angeles Dodger game in 1960.

A view of the crowded Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as baseball fans attend a Los Angeles Dodger game in 1960.

Photo: Ralph Crane., Getty Images

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The Boston Red Sox take on the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 2008.

The Boston Red Sox take on the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 2008.

Photo: Lisa Blumenfeld, Getty Images

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The entrance to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Exposition Park is seen in March 1984.

The entrance to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Exposition Park is seen in March 1984.

Photo: Ernst Haas, Getty Images

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A history of hitters' parks

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Baseball in the Alamodome provides a quirky necessity — a diamond layout that defies the norm in the form of a 285-foot right field line and a short 305-foot power alley. While those numbers fall far short of the standards for most major league ballparks, history has produced some exceptions. Express-News staff writer Chuck Blount takes a look at the parks where home runs require a little less travel:

Fenway Park

Built in 1912 and arguably the most iconic stadium in MLB, Boston's Fenway Park also has its shortest dimensions at 310-389-302. Right-handed hitters have feasted on its imposing 37-foot tall "Green Monster," while left-handers target the famous "Pesky Pole" that may actually measure less than 300.

Coors Field

The 347-414-350 dimensions are sizeable, but because of Denver's high elevation (approximately 5,500 feet) the thin, dry air produced a launching effect to hit baseballs. The ballpark broke league records for the most home runs hit in a season twice, but the Rockies now put game balls in a humidor to counter effects.

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The stadium was famous for its horseshoe-shaped dimensions with short left-field (277 feet) and right-field (258) measurements that forced a dramatic 483-foot centerfield wall. Only four players ever hit a ball over it. Two of histories best sluggers — Babe Ruth and Willie Mays — called the venue home.

Los Angeles Coliseum

After moving to Los Angeles from Brooklyn, the Dodgers played in the spacious but baseball unfriendly Coliseum from 1958-61. MLB was forced to adopt minimum standards for new facilities because of its tiny dimensions. The left-field fence was so short (251 feet) that Commissioner Ford Frick forced the team to erect two layers of nets to prevent routine pop flies from going out of the ballpark. Balls hit into the nets were considered ground-rule doubles.